Lines dividing ''processing'' and ''packaging'' blurring, report says

RESTON, Va. — Spare
parts, reliability and the ever-blurring line between packaging and processing
continue to rank high among the factors shaping packaging and processing
machinery purchases, according to "Key Attributes of Packaging &
Processing Machinery and Suppliers 2012," newly released by PMMI.

PMMI
is a trade association of about 600 member companies that manufacture
packaging, processing and related converting machinery in the United States or
Canada; machinery components and packaging containers and materials.

The
study evaluates three key areas that feed into the choice of an original
equipment manufacturer (OEM): strategies, supplier attributes and machinery
attributes. Researchers interviewed nearly 200 packaging professionals,
processing professionals and plant managers in companies with a range of
revenues that begins below $200 million and goes beyond $5 billion.

"The
report really brings home the point that packaging and processing machinery
buyers have to consider total systems solutions," says Charles D. Yuska,
President & CEO, PMMI.

Supporting
that perspective are the definitively blurred boundaries between the
responsibilities accompanying a particular job title. For example, regardless of
whether they were considered "packaging professionals,"
"processing professionals" or "plant managers," respondents
reported spending between 44% and 56% of their time working on
packaging functions. Processing functions were second (23%-42%),
followed by "other functions" (14%-21%).

Accordingly,
more than half of the respondents indicated a line-integration/solutions focus
is a guiding strategy for their machinery purchases.

However,
the report notes, purchasing strategies vary by market. For example, although
food and the pharmaceutical/personal care market results are in line with the
overall numbers, their leading strategies are to use prequalified/preferred
vendors (61%) and detailed rigorous proposal evaluations (67%),
respectively.

"Purchasing
strategies will reflect the conditions and priorities of unique companies in
their specific marketplaces." Yuska notes. "While a food
manufacturer, may be preparing to comply with the Food Safety Modernization
Act, a pharmaceutical manufacturer might be more concerned with considering
serialization implementation."